Shakib Al Hasan has tested positive for COVID-19, and is ruled out of the first Test against Sri Lanka that begins on 15 May. He tested positive on Tuesday in a PCR and a rapid antigen test, pre-requisites for joining the team.

Shakib was supposed to join the Bangladesh Test squad on Wednesday, two days after they started training in Chattogram on Monday. According to a BCB press release, he will now recover in self-isolation and will be re-tested in due course.

Bangladesh haven’t named a replacement immediately but they did pick all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain as cover for the injured Mehidy Hasan Miraz shortly after they had originally announced the Test squad. Shakib’s absence in Chattogram is going to be a major blow to the home side who are already without Mehidy and Taskin Ahmed, who wasn’t picked in the squad due to a shoulder injury he picked up in South Africa last month. Shoriful Islam is in the Test squad but his participation is subject to a fitness test ahead of the game.

Lanka want to take some positives back home by winning series in BD